Chapter 125
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Lag Behind (5)
Rumble!
The prison gate swung open.
"What the hell is that smell?"
"Smells like rotting fish, doesn't it? Maybe a stray cat died? Ugh, my head hurts."
The warriors muttered as they stepped through the gate.
A foul stench permeated the Thunder Prison. Far worse than rotting fish in the fifth lunar month. The odor was so overpowering it made them pinch their noses without thinking.
"Ugh! Ventilation here's a nightmare."
"Someone shit themselves or what?"
"Nah, it wouldn't stink this bad from that."
"Seriously, did a stray cat crawl in and croak?"
The warriors looked like they wanted to bolt but had no choice. They pressed on into the Thunder Prison.
Yet they barely took three steps before halting.
"Urgh...!"
A groan echoed through the darkness.
"W-what in the world!"
The warriors' eyes bulged in shock. They had to check it out immediately.
Whoosh! Whish! Whoosh!
The torches they carried fluttered like butterflies in late spring.
From cell to cell in the Thunder Prison.
"Urgh...! They're all dead!"
One of the warriors muttered in a pained groan.
All the prisoners locked in the Thunder Prison were dead. Not just recently, either. They'd been gone for days; their corpses had begun to rot, oozing pus.
The vile stench that hit the warriors upon entry was the smell of decaying bodies.
"C-could it be!"
The warriors snapped to high alert.
Only one person could pull off something like this in the Thunder Prison.
The murderous demon who'd slaughtered nineteen just days ago!
If the prisoners were dead again, and he'd killed them... it meant the iron shackles binding him had come loose. In other words, he was right there beside them now.
Clang! Shing!
The warriors drew their weapons in an instant. One tossed his torch onto the cell floor.
Whoosh!
The torch ignited like spreading wildfire, flames racing through the cells.
Oil-soaked rags had been laid out across the floor for just such an emergency.
They stretched from the entrance all the way to the end.
Enough to light up the entire cell block in a flash.
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted one after another, illuminating every corner. And revealing the gruesome truth within.
"Gasp!"
"S-such brutality!"
The warriors recoiled in horror.
Every prisoner in the Thunder Prison was dead. Not a single one had survived.
Their bodies were rotting.
Fourteen men in all, severely decomposed.
What shocked the warriors even more came after spotting Four Thousand Four.
Four Thousand Four sat calmly in his original spot. His shackles were already broken. Hands and feet free. And every cell bar—from his own to the entire Thunder Prison—lay shattered.
The beast responsible for the slaughter was clearly Four Thousand Four.
Yet he remained utterly composed. Corpses rotted around him, but he didn't so much as frown.
Swoosh! Flash! Swoosh! Flash!
Four Thousand Four's hands gleamed white as jade, then returned to their natural hue.
He stared only at his hands. Watched the color shift impassively. Flames blazed around him, warriors had entered, but he ignored it all.
The killer looked far too at ease.
Was this what a killer looked like? Were true murderers' hearts this parched?
"Y-you... monstrous fiend!"
A warrior bellowed in rage, sword raised as if to strike at any moment.
Then Four Thousand Four, who'd paid them no mind, finally glanced their way.
Flash!
Lightning seemed to pour from his gaze.
Meeting his eyes felt like locking stares with a venomous serpent. Their legs went weak.
What kind of gaze is that!
This guy's a real killer! Treats human lives like flyspeck. One wrong move, and we're dead!
The warriors gulped dryly.
Four Thousand Four spoke coldly.
"Bring me the Punishment Lord."
"What! You punk, how dare you! As if the Punishment Lord has time to deal with trash like—"
The warrior who'd barked boldly cut off mid-sentence.
Drip! Trickle!
Red blood poured from his forehead like rainwater.
He died without a scream. No sharp blade had struck him. A shard from the shattered bars had pierced his forehead dead center.
Thud! Splatter!
The bleeding warrior collapsed.
Four Thousand Four watched coldly, then repeated.
"Bring me the Punishment Lord."
Gulp!
One warrior swallowed hard.
He opened his mouth to speak but froze. The dead man's body caught his eye. Speaking meant death.
"Got it. We'll fetch him!"
The warriors backed away.
Swish! Swish swish!
They surrounded the Thunder Prison.
Five had entered; one died, four retreated. Three encircled the cells, while one sprinted off.
Four Thousand Four perked his ears.
The outer prison was a maze. Without knowing the way, you'd circle the same spot all day.
He tracked the warrior's path.
Tap tap! Thud!
The running warrior pounded a stone wall. Moments later, it rumbled open.
He dashed on.
Groan!
The stone wall sealed shut again.
Heh! No escaping now.
Four Thousand Four gave a wry smile.
The outside wasn't just a maze. Trap mechanisms lined it too. Pounding the wall let someone verify identity before opening.
Such devices were everywhere.
Killing one or two warriors was no issue. But more would come, stronger each time.
Even slaughtering them all changed nothing.
He couldn't break out. Without the Punishment Lord, he'd be trapped here forever.
A rat perfectly caged.
Crunch! Crunch crunch!
Someone entered the Thunder Prison.
Four Thousand Four had sensed him long ago.
He'd heard the stone door open. And the footsteps approaching.
Step! Step step!
The encircled warriors outside cupped fists in salute toward him.
Weapons swayed as hands clasped.
A hasty, reverent greeting.
A man of high rank.
More than that—his martial prowess was top-tier. Evident from the footsteps alone.
A heavy frame treading lightly, like stepping on cotton.
At first, it sounded like a woman. But no—he crushed the cotton with weight.
Everyone's gait had its signature.
Swoosh! Crunch crunch crunch!
The visitor lightly vaulted the gate and entered.
The outer warriors saluted, but he offered no reply.
Utter disregard. He saw them as less than dirt under his nails. Arrogance and pride soaked to the bone.
Four Thousand Four eyed the approaching man.
Extremely fat. Tall, but his bulk made him seem short. Grease streamed down his face; tiny slit eyes made it hard to tell if they were open.
The man smiled.
"Heard about it, but... the stench is brutal."
Mint leaves plugged his nostrils, likely to mask the reek.
"Who are you?"
Four Thousand Four asked without rising.
"The Deputy."
The man replied with a steady smile.
"Deputy?"
"You don't know what Deputy means?"
"No. Is it a name?"
"No, no. Haha! It's frustrating talking to someone who doesn't know. Deputy's not simple—think of it as a title. Second to the Punishment Lord. The number two, yeah?"
Swoosh!
Four Thousand Four finally stood.
The Deputy eyed him.
"Sent word to the old man. Said I'd kill you. If you wanted a last farewell, come see. I could spare that much mercy. Oh, told the jailer. Got rejected, though?"
Heh!
Four Thousand Four chuckled inwardly.
As expected of the old man. One who'd mastered Death Sense sees death. He walks into it knowingly—no need to watch his end.
The dead are just dead.
Wailing before a corpse changes nothing. They know no grief, not even that you mourned. Sorrow belongs to the living.
One who lives in Death Sense shares no such sorrow.
No time for it. The world overflows with souls to guide to death.
The old man had no reason to come, no freedom to, and even if possible, never would.
The Deputy said,
"Still gonna kill you, though. How about it? Ready to die? Or drag you out?"
"Pfft!"
Four Thousand Four laughed. Then continued.
"Honestly... was gonna go quietly. But hearing you're number two changes things. Might as well have a round first—dying after sounds fine."
"Knew you'd say that."
The Deputy grinned as if expecting it, then... snapped his head back.
Shoo!
Something whistled over his tilted head.
He kept moving. Right, left, lifting a foot, twisting his waist.
Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!
More projectiles flew.
Four Thousand Four didn't budge. Arms, legs—his body poised for attack, frozen. Yet the Deputy dodged frantically without pause.
"Hahaha! Good! The Shadowless Steps indeed!"
The Deputy laughed.
The attacks stopped after his words.
He knew because the Deputy halted. Otherwise, no clue what happened. He'd been flailing busily, clueless why.
Except for the wall behind the Deputy, studded with countless wooden splinters.
"Didn't think anyone could dodge these."
"Yeah. Never figured I could either. But how do you take a hit you see coming? Right? Haha! More? Got more tricks?"
The moment.
Both fell silent.
"Couldn't see this one, huh."
"Right."
The smile vanished from the Deputy's face. Cold killing intent radiated instead.
Trickle!
Belatedly... red blood dripped from the Deputy's shoulder.